Milwaukee @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2012 ) Milwaukee 15, Chi. Cubs 4

If the Milwaukee Brewers could play every series against the Chicago Cubs, they would probably be headed back to the playoffs. The Brewers have taken 11 of 14 from the Cubs this season after a 15-4 drubbing on Monday and have won six straight in the series. At 60-67, Milwaukee still has an outside chance at a .500 season but will be done with Chicago after the four-game set at Wrigley Field ends this week. The Cubs are just trying to get to the finish line.

Chicago needed to put in outfielder Joe Mather to record the final out of the ninth inning Monday as the Brewers tacked on nine runs in the frame. The Cubs continue to evaluate young players but have not gotten much from the likes of Josh Vitters (5-for-54 in 16 games) or Brett Jackson (.212, 32 strikeouts in 66 at-bats). Milwaukee is playing for the future as well but still has some stars in the lineup. Ryan Braun hit his National League-leading 35th home run and drove in five Monday while Aramis Ramirez added two homers and four RBIs. Ramirez has nine RBIs in the last four games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (13-8, 3.62 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-10, 4.76)

Gallardo is on a roll over the last month, going 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA in his last five starts. The 26-year old right-hander has gone at least seven innings in each of those five starts, including last week against Chicago when he cruised through seven frames, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out nine. Gallardo surrendered solo home runs to David DeJesus and Bryan LaHair in that win. He is 6-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 13 career starts against the Cubs.

Wood is still trying to prove to the Chicago front office that he deserves a spot in the 2013 rotation. The left-hander is 0-7 in his last eight starts, including a loss at Milwaukee matched up against Gallardo last week in which he was touched for three runs in seven frames. He surrendered a solo home and an RBI double to Braun in that contest. Wood is 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA in six career games - five starts - against the Brewers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ramirez’s surge has lifted him into fifth in the NL with 81 RBIs. Braun (90) is currently tied with St. Louis’ Matt Holliday for the league lead.

2. Mather became the first position player to pitch for the Cubs since Gary Gaetti in 1999.

3. The Milwaukee pitching staff is on pace to set a franchise record for strikeouts in a season. The Brewers currently lead the majors with 1,104 in 1,140 innings.